An NTSB investigation of the crash that seriously injured pilot Jack Roush at EAA AirVenture 2010 found that Roush, co-owner of a NASCAR Sprint Cup team and holder of an airline transport pilot certificate, allowed the Hawker Beechcraft 390 (Premiere IA) jet to stall during an attempted go-around.

The NTSB, in a probable cause finding approved this month, determined that Roush failed to apply takeoff power after aborting an attempted landing at Wittman Regional Airport. Roush suffered broken bones and lost his left eye in the crash, according to The Sporting News. His lone passenger suffered minor injuries, according to published reports, though the NTSB report states that pilot and passenger both suffered “serious” injuries.

Roush told The Sporting News that “I accept the findings” of the report.

“I can’t emphasize this too much—what a relief it was that I was able to negotiate a contact with the ground that kept me free of other airplanes and free of anybody that could have been injured outside of the airplane,” Roush told The Sporting News.

Roush had been cleared to land on Runway 18R behind a departing Piper Cub, which was cleared for immediate takeoff followed by an immediate turn away from the busy runway. According to the NTSB report, Roush was not monitoring the departure frequency, and was unaware of the Cub’s clearance and intentions. Concerned he would overtake the two-seater, Roush decided to abort the landing but did not advance the throttles to takeoff power. He told investigators that he was scanning for other traffic, and did not recall hearing the stall warning that was picked up by the cockpit voice recorder. The stick shaker and stick pusher systems activation was nearly simultaneous to the right wing stall, Roush told investigators. The aircraft struck a grassy area with a nose-down attitude following a five-second descent from 117 feet agl at 1,972 fpm. Investigators found no mechanical problems contributed to the crash.

Roush, 70, nearly lost his life in a 2002 crash after striking power lines. He had logged more than 9,000 hours at the time of the 2010 crash, according to the NTSB report, and continues to fly, according to The Sporting News.

Jim Moore

Editor

AOPA Online Editor Jim Moore joined AOPA in 2011 and is an instrument-rated private pilot who enjoys competition aerobatics.